RESIGNED Cebu City councilor Hilario Davide III admitted winning against incumbent Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is difficult, but said that if he gets drafted by the Liberal Party (LP) as its candidate, he will offer “honesty, transparency, accountability and trustworthiness” to the Cebuanos.

He still maintained that his primary concern is to campaign for LP’s Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III-Manuel “Mar” Roxas III tandem, though he is open to running for Cebu governor if asked.

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He told the 888 News Forum, where he was a guest along with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, that apart from being the incumbent, Garcia has also her qualities.

Davide resigned from the City Council last month so he could concentrate on his task as LP-Cebu chairman, whose primary duty is to advance the candidacy of Aquino
and Roxas.

He has maintained that running for governor is not a priority, and that the decision will be up to the party, as choosing the candidate goes through a process.

Davide said he promised his eldest child that as she speaks about good governance in college, he would live up to being her example.

Asked for his choice of running mate if ever he will be chosen as candidate for governor, Davide said he would choose among three persons, Provincial Board (PB) Members Ma. Victoria “Tata” Corominas, Victor Maam-bong and former PB member Luigi Quisumbing.

Osmeña, for his part, believes Davide has the integrity for the job.

And while City residents do not vote for the governor, he said it is “the center of opinion in Cebu.”

The mayor also said that all of the landowners and professionals working in the province actually live in Cebu City, so that Cebu City residents can also affect the outcome of elections in the province.

He likewise said that the chance of Davide should not be discounted just because he came from Cebu City.

“If you are recognized in Cebu City, you are recognized in the province; but if you are known in (the town of) Dumanjug does not necessarily mean you are known in Cebu City,” Osmeña said.

Though Davide served as Cebu City councilor for two consecutive terms, his family is known in the province, particularly in his hometown of Argao.

Asked if his father, former chief justice Hilario Davide Jr., approved of his decision, Davide said he consulted him and got his blessings.

He said his children supported him and though with reluctance, his wife also agreed with his plan to transfer to the province.